Autism Assessment

We offer autism diagnostic assessments for children and adults.

Our Autism Assessment Service is an experienced multidisciplinary team. We use established diagnostic tools in line with the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and consider differential diagnoses during the assessment, as recommended by NICE.

While the DSM-5 diagnostic term refers to Autism Spectrum Disorder, we believe autism to be a type of neurodivergence, rather than a disorder, meaning a particular way of learning, thinking, feeling and communicating, which is associated with many strengths.

We recognize the differing presentation in women and girls and recognise demand avoidant profiles (Pathological Demand Avoidance).

Our National Autistic Society listing can be found here.

Assessments take place at our clinic in Southam, Warwickshire or at our monthly clinic in Guildford, Surrey. The assessment typically consists of four parts:

1. Initial telephone consultation

A 30-minute telephone consultation to all clients wishing to determine whether an autism assessment would be appropriate for them or their child. This is an opportunity for you to ask further questions about the assessment process and for us to learn more about you/your child and your/their current areas of strength and need.

2. Information Gathering

For children and young people this includes the use of questionnaires sent to parents/carers, and liaison with the person’s education or daycare setting via questionnaires and phone.

We will also liaise with any other relevant professionals (with parental consent).

For home educated children, where we are happy to liaise with others who can share observations from different settings they might access.

For adults this includes the use of self-report questionnaires.

3. Developmental History Interview

A structured clinical interview to gather relevant information about the person’s developmental history and current areas of strength and need. For children and young people this is typically completed with parents/carers.

For adults, this can take place with their parents, another family member or friend who has known the person since childhood, or simply a meeting with the individual to share relevant information they are able to provide.

4. Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-2 (ADOS-2)

A semi-structured interaction, play, and conversation-based assessment designed to elicit behaviours indicative of autism.